Hollywood actor Neal McDonough is known for his villains, but his latest project rides in with something very different: purpose.
Sitting down with Billy Hallowell of CBN News, McDonough opened up about his new film, The Last Rodeo, his faith and the battles he’s fought to stay true to his convictions.
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“This was… a gift from above,” McDonough said of the film, which he not only stars in, but also helped write. “Write a film, Rocky on a bull, that you have to go back and save your grandson. You have to go back and ride again to save your grandson because he’s dying of the same brain tumor that your wife died of.” He added, “Within 24 hours, I came up with a kind of an outline… within a week, we had the first draft done. And a week later, we had it sold.”
For McDonough, the rapid timeline wasn’t just luck. “This is divine intervention… that doesn’t happen. That never happens. You know that’s a miracle.”
Standing Firm in Hollywood
McDonough has long made headlines for his refusal to do sex scenes or on-screen kisses, a stance that cost him dearly. “Because I wouldn’t kiss a woman in that show years ago… I got blackballed and then they took—you know, I lost my house and I lost everything.” He continued, “That kind of crucifixion was maybe the greatest gift that I’ve ever gotten in my life as a man.”
Following that season of brokenness, McDonough said he spiraled into alcoholism. “I had a massive drinking problem. I just drank myself silly for two years because I couldn’t get a job. I was bankrupt. I lost everything.”
But faith brought him back. “It all started to come back. And it has come back tenfold.”
A Message Bigger Than the Movie
The Last Rodeo is more than a cowboy movie. It’s a family story at heart, crafted with a message of redemption, love and perseverance. “There aren’t a lot of films out there anymore where you can bring the whole family to it, not have to cover eyes or ears… The whole family gets to go see a film, be entertained, and at the end of [it] make you realize, okay, what am I prepared to do to help my family?”
Asked what he hopes viewers walk away with, McDonough said, “Life can be amazing if we have a little faith… Anyone can get through any problem if they have faith.”
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And for McDonough, that’s not just faith in God, but in the small, everyday decisions to do good. “If I’m living by examples, if I’m doing the right thing, people notice.”
Now producing his eleventh project in four years with his wife and partner Ruve, McDonough has found success not by compromising, but by standing strong. “I love telling great stories and now I get to tell great stories that entertain people that give glory to God. Wow. Wow. I mean, what more could you ask for?”
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
